Rail-joint.



' E.F1BLDS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1908.

Patented Mar. 2, 1909.

' INVENTOR wm& Mm @MML WITNESSES Cir UNITE srrs r g rn r onnron EMANUEL FIELDS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF EIGHT-TENTHS TO JOHN A. BECK, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Application filed July 31, 1908. Serial No. 446,253.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMANUEL Francs, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rail-Joints, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a rail joint embodying my invention, the ends of the rails being shown as separated and a portion of the joint bar or connector being broken away; Fig. 2 is a section on the line II-II of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the joint bar or connector.

My invention has relation to rail joints and is designed to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient joint which is free from bolts and nuts, screws, or other separate fastenings, which obviates the use of the splice bars ordinarily employed, and which will permit free expansion and contraction of the rails.

The precise nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown one embodiment thereof and which will now be described, it beingpremised, however, that I do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement therein shown.

In these drawings, the numerals 2 and 3 designate the end portions of two rails.

4 is the improved joint bar or connector.

In accordance with my invention, I out in the webs of the end portions of the rails 2 and 3 the arcuate slots 5, these slots extending inwardly into the webs from the ends of the rails at a point near the heads and curving downwardly to a point near the base flanges.

The joint bar or connector consists of a piece of metal having a convexed upper edge 6 highest at its center and a straight base 7, adapted to fit the base flanges of the rails. This base is curved or recessed on its upper and lower sides to form a connecting webS, between its two side portions, the upper surface of the web being convexed to substantially the same radius as the upper walls of the slots 5, and the lower surface of the web being concaved to substantially the same radius as the lower walls of the slots 5.

In applying the joint bar or connector,

the adjacent end portions of the two rails are raised and the Web portion 8 of the connector is engaged with the slots 5. The two rail ends are then pushed together and brought down to their positions on the ties, the adjacent portions of the heads of the l rails resting upon the central portion of the convexed edge 6. It will be seen that the side portions of the connector act as splice bars which span the joint and which fit against opposite sides of the rail webs, their lower edges having a more or less closely fitted bearing on the base flanges of the rails. he device in this manner forms a simple and secure joint between the rails without the use of bolts and nuts, screws or other separate fastenings, and it forms a support for the rail heads adjacent to the joint where they are most likely to become hammered or pounded down in service. It also allows he free expansion and contraction movements of the rails within the necessary limits. The joint also forms a safeguard against attempts of Wreckers to displace the rails since in order to disconnect the joint, it is necessary to remove the spikes for a c011- siderable ortion of thelength of each of the rails and ift their ends.

My improved joint bar or connector can be adapted to rails of various heights and sections, and the form and curvature of the slots 5 and of the web 8 may be changed as may be desired.

It will be noted that in the form of the in vention shown, the connecting or web portion is of less length than the side portion, so that slots 9 are formed at the ends which embrace the webs of the rails beyond the ends of the slots. While these slots are shown as comparatively short, they may be made much longer in proportion to the length of the connecting or web portion, with a corresponding reduction in the length of the slots 5.

I claim:

1. In a rail joint, the combination with two adjacent rails having the end portions of their webs formed with radial slots, of a connecting bar arranged to span the joint at each side of the rails and having a radial web engaging slots in the rail webs, substantially as described.

2. In a rail joint, the combination with two adjacent rails, of a joint bar or connector engaging the webs of the rails at each side thereof and having a radial connecting web portion extending through radial slots in the rails, substantially as described.

3. In a rail joint, the combination with two ad'acent rails havin their web ortions 1 integral radial web portion fitting the slots in the rails, said bar having its side portions bearing between the head and base flanges of the rails, substantially as described.

i. In a rail joint, the combination with two adjacent rails having their webs formed with radial slots at their end portions, of a joint bar or connector consistlng of an integral piece having side portions which span the joint, and a radial connecting web portion engaging the slots in the webs, said bar or connector having a conveXed upper edge bearing upwardly underneath the rail heads adjacent the joint, and a substantially straight edge fitting the base flanges of the rails, substantially as described.

5'. In a rail joint, a joint bar or connector consistlng of an lntegral piece having side portions adapted to act as splice bars, and an integral radial connecting web portion adapted to engage radial slots in the webs of the rails, substantially as described.

6. In a rail joint, a joint bar or connector consisting of an integral iece of metal hav ing a co'nveXed upper edge and a straight lower edge, and also having a connecting web whose upper surface is conveXed and whose lower surface is concave, and rail members having radial slots in the Webs at their abutting ends, substantially as described.

7. In a rail joint, a joint bar or connector consisting of side portions adapted to act as splice bars, and a radial connecting portion or web adapted to engage radial slots in the webs of the rails, said connecting portion or web being of less length than the side portions and forming end slots, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, Ihave hereunto set my hand.

EMANUEL FIELDS Witnesses:

GEORGE R. BoTHwELL, ROBERT M. BoTnWELL. 

